There comes a point in life when you just have this feeling that everything you say goes unheard or unseen, or that our voices have been silenced. Having been at such a similar position in my professional life, I learned some tricks that I saved as golden rules in my lesson learned spreadsheet.
Smile
"I have many problems in my life. But my lips don't know that. They just keep smiling." - Charlie Chaplin
I remember when I started in corporate world, I was told that if I am smiling then people aren’t going to take me as seriously. So, I was trying to remain mindful and keep a neutral facial expression in the work place until I joined the African Development Bank. There I met with women who were feminine, smiling, making jokes and yet were lioness when it came to negotiations. I realized then it was a completely wrong myth that smile is a signed of subordination. It was all about authenticity, fake smile is ugly but authentic smile is a sign that you are happy and confident being who you are.
Use Power Words and Be Confident
"Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." - Rumi
You can’t talk like a failure and expect to be successful. Consider avoiding expressions like “I think…”, “Maybe we should…”, “I’m not sure, but…”. Such expressions make you look uncertain and unsure of the proposition you are putting forth. This is important but is only on the surface. The next layer is to talk from the power of your own authority and that will only come when you talk from your own personal experience.
Radiate Power
"Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." - Margaret Thatcher
It is one thing to see yourself as powerful. But how others see you is a completely different thing. This has to do with the way you present yourself to others. Your personal appearance here includes the way you walk, your postures at different times and in different situations, your body language, the way you talk, the clothes and accessories you wear, your fragrance and hairstyle. A confident and powerful physical appearance is as important as what you have to offer.
Question Everything
"Never lose a holy curiosity." - Albert Einstein
Some people are too good at persuading others such that they can make an incorrect idea or solution sound undoubtably correct. But the fact that something is regarded as an established norm does not make it correct. If you feel like something is not right or is doubtable, then you should say something. Question everything regardless of the authority and position of the person saying it. Be confident and firm when expressing your disagreement and opinion but do so in a respectable manner.
Prioritize self-development over self-sacrifice
"Self-development is a higher duty than self-sacrifice." - Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Before saying yes to a proposition, ask yourself whether you are accepting because you want to please someone or just because you think you should or whether doing this task is going to add to you in one way or another. It’s perfectly fine to prioritize yourself.
Be a solution provider
"There's no such thing as problems, Mr. Green, only situations." - Guy Ritchie
Sometimes, you might be asked to perform a task but are unsure of its aspects. Faced with such circumstances, it is better for you to provide multiple solutions to the task rather than seek assistance. This is because providing multiple solutions makes you the solution provider rather than the problem solver.
Embrace your Feminine Power
"Many of you seek masculine approval. Even though you have inside you your way of talking and writing, you have mountains of it inside you, and even though it is enough to begin expressing yourselves so long as it is with your vocabulary, your abstractions, and your own conceptualization, I think you are still afraid of the master: men. " -Marguerite Duras
Generally, ladies feel like they have to adopt a more masculine attitude in order to fit in a male-dominated workplace. There is nothing wrong with embracing your feminine power as it only makes you stronger. Your feminine power is powerful and by not hiding it, that side of you will give you an added advantage over men.
Be Compassionate
"Let your big heart be your biggest competitive advantage" - Marie Forleo
Compassion is one of the most powerful feminine qualities, as it enables you to be a good listener, empathize with others and understand a particular situation from different viewpoints. This further enables you to provide strategies and solutions that are beneficial to all and take into consideration the views of all stakeholders.
Back Other Women
"There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women. " - Madeleine Albright
This quote stresses the importance of supporting other women as empowering her also empowers you and accords you more legitimacy and respect among your colleagues.
Find and Follow the Works of Inspiring Women
"I hope to inspire everyone—especially young people, women, andyoung girls all over the world, and in Middle Eastern countries that do notprovide women with the same opportunities as men—to not give up their dreams and to pursue them." -AnoushehAnsari
Finding and following powerful and inspiring women is yet another way to build yourself. Some of my personal favorites include @MarieForleo, @OprahWinfrey, @AnoushehAnsari, and @Christiane Taubira. These are women whose works and lives have inspired me.
Love Yourself
“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves.
We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.”―
Probably the most important of all is self-love. This is because it embodies all the other attributes that you need to make your voice heard. It is therefore important to be that confident, beautiful and professional lady who is not scared to showcase her amazing feminine skills and abilities especially in a male-dominant workplace.
Be an inspiration to other women. Make them understand the need for a balanced world. A world which is fair and does not discriminate between men and women, irrespective of the domain.
